Foam formulations and emulsifiable concentrates

Abstract

The present invention is directed to agricultural formulations containing an agriculturally active ingredient in a suitable solvent system for generating foam containing formulations for application in a furrow in the form of a foam. The agriculturally active ingredient may be an insecticide, a pesticide, a fungicide, an herbicide, a fertilizer, or a combination thereof.

We claim: 
     
       1. An agricultural foam comprising a foaming formulation and a gas, wherein said foaming formulation comprises:
 (1) an emulsifiable foaming concentrate comprising:
 (a) an organic phase comprising an agriculturally active ingredient selected from the group consisting of insecticides, pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, fertilizers and combinations thereof; and about 30 wt % to about 65 wt %, based on the weight of the emulsifiable foaming concentrate, of a liquid amide selected from the group consisting of N,N-dimethyloctanamide, N,N-dimethyldecanamide, N-methyl-N(2-propylheptyl)-acetaminde, N-methyl-N(2-propylheptyl)-formamide, N,N-dimethylcapramide and combinations thereof; 
 (b) a second phase comprising at least one non-ionic surfactant; and a foaming agent comprising between about 5 wt % and about 25 wt %, based on the weight of the emulsifiable foaming concentrate, of at least one anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of an alkyl sulfate, alkylaryl sulfate, aryl sulfate, alkyl sulfonate, alkylaryl sulfonate, aryl sulfonate and combinations thereof; and 
 
 (2) water;
 wherein said gas is air, and wherein the ratio of liquid amide to the agriculturally active agent is between 2:1 to 4:1, and wherein the foam has an expansion factor of up to 50. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The foam of  claim 1 , wherein the foaming agent is selected from the group consisting of sodium decyl sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate and a combination thereof. 
     
     
       3. The foam of  claim 2 , wherein the foaming agent is sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium decyl sulfate. 
     
     
       4. The foam of  claim 1 , additionally comprising a dispersant and a preservative. 
     
     
       5. The agricultural foam of  claim 1 , wherein said foaming formulation stays stable for at least 90 days at ambient pressure. 
     
     
       6. The foam of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of said emulsifiable concentrate to said water is in the range between 95:5-5:95. 
     
     
       7. The foam of  claim 1 , wherein the agricultural foam provides a crop-protective effect when an effective amount thereof is administered to a seed in-furrow. 
     
     
       8. The foam of  claim 1 , wherein the foam has an expansion factor of at least 15 to about 50. 
     
     
       9. The foam of  claim 1 , wherein the formulation is selected from the group consisting of a water-in-oil emulsion, an oil-in-water emulsion, and a microemulsion. 
     
     
       10. The agricultural foam of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one foam stabilizer selected from the group consisting of glycerin, propylene glycol and dipropylene glycol. 
     
     
       11. The agricultural foam of  claim 10 , wherein said foam stabilizer is glycerin. 
     
     
       12. An agricultural foam comprising a foaming formulation and a gas, wherein the foaming formulation comprises:
 (1) a foaming emulsion concentrate comprising bifenthrin, about 30 wt % to about 65 wt %, based on the weight of the emulsifiable foaming concentrate, of a liquid amide selected from the group consisting of N,N-dimethyloctanamide, N,N-dimethyldecanamide, N-methyl-N-(2-propylheptyl)-acetamide, N-methyl-N-(2-propylheptyl)-formamide, N,N-dimethylcapramide, and combinations thereof between about 5 wt % and about 25 wt %, based on the weight of the emulsifiable foaming concentrate, of at least one anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of an alkyl sulfate, alkylaryl sulfate, aryl sulfate and combinations thereof; and 
 (2) water; 
 wherein said gas is air, 
 wherein the ratio of the liquid amide to bifenthrin is between 2:1 and 4:1, and wherein the foam has an expansion factor of up to 50. 
 
     
     
       13. The agricultural foam of  claim 12 , wherein bifenthrin is present at a concentration of at least 10%. 
     
     
       14. The agricultural foam of  claim 12 , further comprising a nonionic surfactant. 
     
     
       15. The agricultural foam of  claim 14  wherein the total concentration of anionic surfactant and nonionic surfactant is up to about 40 wt %. 
     
     
       16. The agricultural foam of  claim 12 , wherein the alkyl sulfate is sodium decyl sulfate or sodium lauryl sulfate. 
     
     
       17. The agricultural foam of  claim 12 , wherein bifenthrin is present in about 15 wt % to about 20 wt %. 
     
     
       18. The agricultural foam of  claim 12 , further comprising at least one foam stabilizer selected from the group consisting of glycerin, propylene glycol and dipropylene glycol. 
     
     
       19. The agricultural foam of  claim 18 , wherein said foam stabilizer is glycerin. 
     
     
       20. The agricultural foam of  claim 12 , further comprising one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of fungicides, herbicides, fertilizers and combinations of two or more thereof.